• Armed individuals and uniformed militia members take to streets in ruling party strongholds
• Pro-government forces patrol La Guaira port city as uncertainty grips Venezuela
• Streets remain largely empty in most areas while vehicles move freely despite power outages

CARACAS, VZ (TDR) — Armed individuals and uniformed members of Venezuela’s civilian militia took to the streets Saturday in Caracas neighborhoods long considered strongholds of the ruling party, hours after United States forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in a predawn raid.

Pro-government armed civilians were photographed patrolling La Guaira, the country’s primary port city, as news of Maduro’s capture spread across the nation. The deployments appeared concentrated in areas traditionally loyal to the Bolivarian Revolution, though most of Caracas remained eerily quiet.

In other parts of the capital, streets remained largely empty hours after the attack. Parts of the city experienced power outages, though vehicles moved freely through areas where electricity remained functional.

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Militia System Activated

The street presence reflects Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Militia, a fifth branch of the armed forces established to integrate civilians into the defense structure. The government has claimed to have mobilized more than 8 million armed civilians ready to respond to foreign intervention.

Venezuela’s defense doctrine, known as “Guerra de Todo el Pueblo” or War of All the People, calls for prolonged resistance rather than conventional battles against superior adversaries. The strategy relies on dispersing regular forces into smaller units while activating civilian militias to operate in populated areas.

“How do I feel? Scared, like everyone,” Caracas resident Noris Prada told reporters, sitting on an empty avenue looking down at his phone. “Venezuelans woke up scared, many families couldn’t sleep.”

Military Infrastructure Struck

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The US military operation targeted multiple sites across Venezuela, including Fort Tiuna military installation where Maduro was captured, La Carlota military air base, and La Guaira port facilities. Smoke was seen rising from hangars and vehicles were damaged at military installations throughout Caracas.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said some Venezuelan civilians and military members were killed during the operation, though she did not provide specific casualty figures. President Donald Trump said several US forces were injured but none were killed.

“Armed individuals and uniformed members of a civilian militia took to the streets of a Caracas neighborhood long considered a stronghold of the ruling party.”

The operation involved more than 150 aircraft, including F-18, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, B-1 bombers and drones. US Army Delta Force operators spent several hours on the ground before successfully extracting Maduro and his wife around 3:29 a.m. EST.

Uncertain Political Landscape

While armed civilians patrolled certain neighborhoods, the broader security situation remained fluid. Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Rodríguez to assume acting presidential powers, though she publicly insisted Maduro remains the country’s legitimate president.

Trump announced the United States would “run” Venezuela until a transition can occur, leaving open the possibility of continued US military presence. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to,” Trump said, adding that US forces were on Venezuelan soil during Saturday’s operation.

The militia deployments highlight Venezuela’s asymmetric defense strategy, designed to complicate any extended occupation by blending irregular forces with civilians in urban areas. Caracas, with its narrow streets and high-density neighborhoods, favors defenders using small arms and guerrilla tactics.

Christopher Sabatini, a Latin America expert at Chatham House think tank, noted the complex security environment facing any transition. The civilian-military union created under Hugo Chávez’s Bolivarian Revolution remains deeply embedded in Venezuelan society.

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